A Soldiers Story - An interview with Roy Wilson

Interview with BFBS Radio - 4 May 2016

A Newspaper Interview with Roy Wilson

War veteran Roy Wilson is campaigning for a medal for all ex-servicemen and women

“What price do you put on a man’s life?”

That is the question an 84-year-old war veteran has asked for the past 12 years, facing continuous knockbacks in his quest for a medal to be awarded to all ex-servicemen and women.

In the week the country stood still for Remembrance Sunday, Roy Wilson is continuing his fight for a National Defence Medal.

The UK government has never considered service in the armed forces sole justification for an honour.

Former Prime Minister David Cameron commissioned a review in 2012 into the merits of a medal, but it was deemed too expensive, with ministers suggesting ex-servicemen and woman could pay for their own medals.

Mr Wilson believes this is unjust. He said: “We have been told by the government they cannot afford it, but the question which I have always asked and never got an answer to is, what price do you put on a man’s life?

“In recent years, we have read about MPs getting pay rises and many filing excessive expenses, but a medal cannot be afforded.”

Currently, regular UK servicemen can only earn a long service and good conduct medal for 15 years’ service.

But Mr Wilson says that isn’t good enough, adding: “No bullet fired has a date on it.”

“It could be someone’s first day and a bullet could kill them in an instant,” he said.

Romford MP Andrew Rosindell lent his backing to the campaign. He said: “It is only right that ex-servicemen and women should be recognised and the families of those who have died should have something to remember them by and display.”